Wire-stretching implement.



No. 772,749. PATENTED 001?. 1a, 1904.

7 1. SMITH.

WIRE STRETGHING IMPLEMENT.

APPLICATION FILED JAN- 14, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented October 18,1904.

ISAAC SMI-TH, OF STRANGER, TEXAS.

WlRE-STRETCHING IMPLEMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 772,749, dated October 18, 1904. Application filed January 14, 1903. Serial No. 139,086. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IsAAc SMITH, a citizen of I the United States, residing'at Stranger, in the v independent of the usual wire-stretching machines or any machines whatever, yet of such special shape and construction that with a sultable hand-lever operated on a fence-post as a fulcrum a new wire may be attached to the same post and old Wires may be tightened and repaired in a very simple and expeditious manner.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this application, Figure l is a perspective view exemplifying the application of the invention. Fig.2 is an edge view. Fig. 3 is a side elevation. The same numeral-references denote the same parts in the views of the drawings.

The fence-post 1 shows awire 2 secured thereto, and the fence-post 3, to which said wire is next secured, constitutes for the time being a fulcrum-post, to which said wire is held by the grasping implement, having ,a hand-lever 4 applied thereto and fulcrumed on the said post3.

The tool or implement consists of a ringshaped portion or body 5, formed of any siritable metal, but preferably of wrought-iron, of suitable thickness and strength to withstand the strain thereon in stretching the usual fence-wire, a rectangular front portion6 projecting from the ring body, the end of said projection being beveled on one or both sides at 1, and an arrow-shaped lip 7 curving from said end rearwardly and outwardly to form a V-shapd opening or mouth 8. The lever is inserted in the ring-opening and held up to the post 3 in position for stretching the wire.

Then the wire is inserted in the mouth 8, where it is firmly grasped, and the lever is operated upon the post 3 as a fulcrum, and the wire works on the beveled side of the portion 6 during the operation of the lever to stretch the wire. While the wire is being held in the V opening or mouth and while the lever is exerting a pull on thewire the latter is stapled to the post 3 at the end of the front portion 6. Then it is obvious that the pressure on the lever is released and the wire is readily removed from the grip.

In addition to the beveled side or sides forming a bearing for the wire the reduction in thickness of the end 6 permits the Wire to lie close to the post and in good position forstapling. The size of fence-post is usually sufiicent to leave ample, post-surface at the front end of the device for stapling the wire; but in the event of the device being operated on a post not of suflicient width to leave such sur-- face an ordinary'block may be inserted between the post and'the hand-lever. As seen in Fig. 3, the inside of the ring opposite the beveled end is provided with teeth 9, which form a fulcrum fora lever and prevent it from slipping, yet the lever may be adjusted in the ring on the teeth at various angles to change the fulcrum-point of the lever, according to the resistance of the wire, without removing the lever fromthe ring. In addition to the bevel on the front end hereinbefore described such beveled portion has a concavity or groove 10, which narrows as it approaches the mouth 8 and diverges toward said end. The said concavity or groove not only forms a guide for the wire, but it permits the latter to lie closerto the post.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

As a new article of manufacture, a wirestretching implement comprising a ringshaped body terminating in a beveled portion, an arc-shaped lip extending from the end of said-portion and terminating in amouth over the ring, said beveled portion having a groove which narrows as it approaches the mouth and diverges toward the end of the said portion, and the teeth on the inner periphery of the ring opposite the beveled portion and forminga lever-fulcrum with a space between the teeth and the opposite side of the ring to permit a pivot and longitudinal movement of the lever throughout its length in the ring, said teeth forming the only connection between the ring and the lever, substantially as shown and described.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

lSAAC SMITH. \Vitnesses:

J OHN MGGAUGHEY, HANSTON ALKER. 

